That is the view of Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
Mourinho was sacked by United this morning after a poor start to the season.
His final game in charge was Sunday’s dispiriting 3-1 Premier League defeat at Liverpool, which left them 19 points behind the table-topping Reds.
United crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the third round, finished second in their Champions League group and their current haul of 26 points from 17 games is their lowest ever at this stage in a Premier League season.
Mourinho has also been embroiled in a series of clashes with his players including Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Eric Bailly.
And Ferdinand feels the writing has been on the wall for Mourinho.
“Right now is the right time,” Ferdinand wrote on Instagram.
“Things aren’t improving & he has taken it as far as he can. I was one of his biggest advocates 2 & half years ago when he joined the club & felt he stabilised #mufc when we needed it.
“You can’t ignore what Jose has achieved as a manager previously but I feel the time has come for fresh ideas at #MUFC!
“People have been critical of my comments on TV of late but as a fan I am saying it as I see it. The club needs an injection of positivity & hopefully this decision will allow that to happen. I wish Jose all the best & wish him well for the future.”
Ferdinand’s former team-mate Gary Neville believes Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is the “outstanding candidate” to take over United.
Neville told Sky Sports News: “I said last season that the next manager of Manchester United should be Mauricio Pochettino.
“When I look at the values of Manchester United, you look at Mauricio Pochettino’s belief in young players at (previous club) Southampton and with Tottenham.
“You look at his performance levels and the style of play, the way in which he carries himself at all times, publicly and in private.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to spend two or three days at Tottenham’s training ground and to me he just feels like the most ideal candidate.
“Manchester United have tried managers that have won European Cups, they’ve tried managers that have won multiple leagues, they’ve tried managers that have, to be fair, had that solid grounding in the Premier League.
“They need someone who meets the three key principles of that football club: the promotion of youth, entertaining football and to win football matches.
“People suggest he hasn’t won a trophy yet at Tottenham but with a net spend of minus £29million or something over the last four years, I’m not sure he could have done more. I do think he is the person who is the outstanding candidate.”